Coleytown M.S. was closed Thursday and will be on Friday for environmental testing. But Palmer announced Thursday that she wants it closed for the next three to four weeks, during which time experts will get a comprehensive look at the school.

During the proposed closure, sixth- and seventh-graders would attend Bedford Middle School, and eighth-graders would go to Staples High School. That would mean 300 additional students into Bedford and 150 into Staples. Bus schedules would remain the same.

The school board held an emergency meeting Thursday evening following a health-related evacuation Monday. Several staff members and a student reported feeling sick. The next day, more than 50 students were absent. Dozens of others lined the halls for the nurse's office, complaining of symptoms similar to respiratory allergies.

Many parents placed the blame on mold because of the mold problems there over the summer, when more than half of the building needed some kind of remediation.

Parents who spoke with News 12 Thursday said they were relieved to hear that the district is taking action.

"It's certainly a step in the right direction," says Jodi Ross, of Westport.

The school board is set to vote on the proposal at a meeting Friday evening.

Connecticut is expecting an increased amount of ticks this summer, and experts are warning residents to be careful, state officials say. Theodore Andreadis at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment station in New Haven tells News 12 that because of warmer days in January and February, there will be more ticks in the area this summer. "The best method of protection is to just check yourself," he says. "If you've been in an area where there's ticks, you get b...

Connecticut is expecting an increased amount of ticks this summer, and experts are warning residents to be careful, state officials say. Theodore Andreadis at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment station in New Haven tells News 12 that because of warmer days in January and February, there will be more ticks in the area this summer. "The best method of protection is to just check yourself," he says. "If you've been in an area where there's ticks, you get b...

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy is announcing a new program to help prevent chronic absenteeism in students between pre-K and senior year. The state is releasing a new guide that will help school districts develop a plan and implement intervention to combat absenteeism. Malloy says we can't educate kids if we can't get them to come to school.

Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy is announcing a new program to help prevent chronic absenteeism in students between pre-K and senior year. The state is releasing a new guide that will help school districts develop a plan and implement intervention to combat absenteeism. Malloy says we can't educate kids if we can't get them to come to school.

News 12

Jaime Rivera, the 47-year-old principal of Wamogo Regional High School, surfaced in reports published last week that described decades of misconduct involving 12 educators at the Choate School in Wallingford.

A Litchfield principal resigned from his job after Region 6 school officials learned he had hidden a rape accusation at another school almost 20 years ago.

A Litchfield principal resigned from his job after Region 6 school officials learned he had hidden a rape accusation at another school almost 20 years ago.